Kick-off: SYNSMASKINEN & Topographies of the Obsolete, Phase 2

Bergen Academy of Art and Design, KHiB, Department of Fine Art holds a reception to celebrate their two new large scale artistic research projects: 'SYNSMASKINEN: 7 fields of contemporary crisis' and 'Topographies of the Obsolete phase 2’. Both projects have recently received support by the Norwegian Artistic Research Programme. Reception with performance and e-book-release 21. May at 19:00 Landmark, Bergen Kunsthall, Bergen.

SYNSMASKINEN is a new artist-group and an inquiry into 7 fields of contemporary crisis. The project will consist of 7 art projects - together these 7 visions will attempt to unfold a contemporary cosmology; a new political horizon. The name SYNSMASKINEN contains the methodological program: SYN=vision / MASKINE=machine. The project is initiated and lead by Professor Frans Jacobi.

'Topographies of the Obsolete, phase 2' is a collaborative Artistic Research project with eight European Partner Universities/Academies, and will continue their exploration of the landscape of post‐industry through ‘Raw-material’, ‘the Contemporary Ruin and Ruination’, and ‘the Role of Art and Artists in a non-art space’. These strands will constitute the basis of the research context in different institutions, workshops, seminars and conferences. The project is initiated and lead by Professors Anne Helen Mydland and Neil Brownsword.

Department of Fine Art is delighted to welcome all to this event, witch also includes an e- book-release by artists Rita Marhaug and Traci Kelly: ‘APPALLING MANNERS’ developed in ‘Topographies of the Obsolete Phase 1’, Bjarte Bjørkum will read from his text in the publication. There will also be a new performance by SYNSMASKINEN: 'Introducing the Hole'.